Italy through after seven-goal thriller

Italy won a scintillating contest to reach the last four and top Group B ahead of the Czech Republic despite twice surrendering the advantage in Mlada Boleslav.

Ebb and flow
The UEFA European Under-19 Championship's leading marksman, Tomáš Necid, fired in his third finals goal to cancel out Andrea Poli's opener before a frenzied second half produced five more strikes. Jan Morávek provided an instant response to Giacomo Bonaventura's effort before Alberto Paloschi's penalty and Poli's second looked to have ended the contest only for Morávek to set up a frantic finish.

Clinical Italy
Jakub Dovalil's side commanded the opening 20 minutes but their lack of cutting edge was punished by opponents who struck masterfully with their first moment of quality. Stefano Okaka Chuka angled a pass through to Paloschi who sped to the byline before pulling a perfect cross back for Poli to score from close range.

Czech pressure
No sooner had the celebrations died down than the Czechs were level. A long free-kick was chested down classily by Necid and the forward nipped into the box to receive the ball back from Morávek and rifle a low shot across Vincenzo Fiorillo. The hosts' tails were up and the Italian custodian was forced into two successive saves, pushing Lukáš Mareček's long-range attempt wide before repelling Morávek's bouncing shot from ten metres.

Substitute effect
Francesco Rocca introduced Bonaventura at half-time in place of Fernando Martin Forestieri in the hope of establishing a firmer foothold in the match – though the coach could scarcely have envisaged just what an impact the change would have on Italian fortunes. Within eleven minutes the midfielder had restored the Azzurri lead, picking up a loose ball 25 metres out and unleashing a low drive into the corner.

Paying the penalty
But again they failed to concentrate at the other end and paid the price. Necid was allowed to clip a pass out to the unmarked Petr Reinberk who burst down the wing and swept over a cross that Morávek slid in to convert. Paloschi had been a peripheral figure for much of the encounter yet was central to Italy overcoming this latest setback. Radim Řezník collided with the striker, who picked himself up to register his second goal of the tournament from the penalty spot.

Frenetic pace
Italy's points seemed to be safe when Necid lobbed a glorious opportunity wide and then Poli added a fourth, calmly slipping a shot past Tomáš Vaclík from Okaka Chuka's through ball, after the Azzurri had had Andrea Mazzarani sent off. But Morávek blasted in his second of the evening with four minutes left to herald a tense finale. A third equaliser, however, proved beyond the Czechs.